Joe Root has spoken to Michael Vaughan and accepts the reasons for his stinging criticism of England in their Trent Bridge defeat.

Root was taken aback initially when Vaughan last week accused his England team of failing to "respect" Test cricket en route to a 340-run trouncing which levelled the Investec series against South Africa at 1-1 with two to play.

As Root prepared for the third match of four, and The Oval's 100th Test, he spoke yesterday in conciliatory tones about his fellow Sheffield Collegiate graduate - and former England captain - needing to do his job as a pundit these days.

Root admits he did take the criticism from his friend personally at the time. But as he seeks to put things right on the pitch, still in just his third Test as captain, he has come to understand Vaughan's stance.

"I did speak to Michael," Root said. "It's his job to be opinionated and say what he thinks."

Root appeared aghast when Vaughan's remark was put to him at his post-match press conference in Nottingham.

"At the time I was caught a little bit off guard with the question," he said. "It can be quite difficult to take something when it's regarding respecting Test cricket.

"It felt a bit personal at the time, but on reflection you have to understand people have an obligation to do their job and say how they feel they see it."

Root concedes some of the critique was constructive, after England had been bowled out twice in under 100 overs.